title: Patient communication in radiology: current status of breaking bad news among radiologists and radiology trainees in Pakistan.
abstract: Breaking bad news can be an intimidating task for any physician. The aim of this study was to record the practices of breaking bad news to the patients by Pakistani radiologists and trainees. The radiologists and trainees attending the 26th National Radiological Conference in October 2010 in Karachi, Pakistan, were surveyed. The response rate was 76%. The respondents included residents (51%), private practicing radiologists (28%), academic radiologists (13%), and other trainees (8%). Most of the academic radiologists communicated with their patients. The daily frequency of breaking bad news by residents was noted, which was highest in the public teaching hospitals (71%). For severe abnormalities such as malignancy, 50% residents, 55% of the academic radiologists and 74% of the private practicing radiologists were very uncomfortable in disclosure of results. Differences in frequency of communication with patients were noticed with both different training levels, and different settings of practice in a developing country.
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Ranish Deedar
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ali Khawaja
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khawaja
authors.forename: Hira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.forename: Mukhtiar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011361:Professional Competence; D011871:Radiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure